The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
N-H will rank best seasons of past 25 years in area football
Let’s get this one out the way immediately.
Sorry Desmond Howard and Michigan Wolverines fans. The St. Joseph (now VASJ) graduate’s 1991 Heisman Trophy season at the University of Michigan won’t make this upcoming list.
Had it happened a year later in 1992, it would have been difficult denying Howard the No. 1 spot in The News-Herald’s upcoming top 25 list of the best individual seasons from area football players from the past 25 years.
Our list will be comprised of players from 1992 to 2016, so all is not lost for Howard, who played in the NFL and was Super Bowl MVP when the Packers won it all in 1996. Here’s how the list will work: • Any area football player’s season from 1992 to 2016 is eligible.
• High school, college and pro seasons will be included, thus making Howard, for example, eligible for the top 25 list, but only his seasons post 1992.
• A player can only appear on the list once. For example, Willoughby South graduate Kareem Hunt’s three best seasons with the Rebels were in 2011 and 2012. His best season with the Rockets (more than 1,600 rushing yards) was in 2014. No big shocker: one of Hunt’s seasons will make the list, just not all three.
• Beginning July 7, the countdown from No. 25 to No. 1 begins with stories, photos and photo galleries each day until July 31, the first day of high school football practices.
Mega football talent has made its way through the area in the past 25 years, and our list isn’t exclusively quarterbacks and running backs.
Some player’s names included on are list are obvious to even the most casual area football fan.
There are plenty of Tony Fisher Award winners, but also some wide receivers, linebackers and even a kicker.
The game of football has also changed in the last 25 years, so stats from the early 1990s might not be as comparable to the game’s currently pass-happy attacks.
Just don’t tell that Kirtland coach Tiger Laverde, who’s run-first coaching philosophy has produced state championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Just because the Hornets move the ball differently than most teams these days doesn’t take away from any of their accomplishments.
There’s also no denying the likes of Willoughby South and Mentor, who offenses under Coaches Matt Duffy (Rebels) and Steve Trivisonno (Cardinals) have produced eyepopping stats.
Be ready for a few surprises too — from Division III college players to others you haven’t heard about in a while.
Football season is just around the corner, and it’s never too early to get the pigskins juices flowing.
It starts July 7 with a top 25 countdown.